Inspired by...

Lastnight when I got home from work I thought I'd experiment with a few things lying around the house and create a little collage.  I've seen a few similar pieces popping up on various blogs and I'm completely smitten with the overall look.  I think this will be a work in progress.  It's not quite "there" yet, but I'm happy enough with the initial first steps to keep working.

The colours were inspired by some of the work Lemontines has been doing recently.  I first came across Lemontine's blog as a knitter, but she's now 71 days into her 365 challenge and I'm really enjoying seeing how she's developing and refining her love for texture in her shots. 

Isn't it lovely?

And then, I saw this post on Inspiration Studio and I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head since. Elk creates beautiful mixed-media collages and her blog is definitely worthy of a cup of tea and some down-time. "Red or Gray, Depends on the Day" is full of simple objects placed together to create beautiful and powerful images.   

Where do you get your inspiration?  Blogs, magazines, museums?  I had an interesting discussion with my sister about creativity in today's internet-based world.  She'd just been to a talk at the Melbourne Writers Festival about creativity and how the internet can be both an outlet for creativity and a vehicle that robs you of time to 'create'.  Do you think the internet helps or hinders creativity?

how to be alone

I found this beautiful video on Wednesday on mati rose's blog.  I'm not usually one for sharing videos, but this is wonderful.  I've just spent two weeks alone in Berlin while Matthias was in Vienna for work.  I had a lot of time to wander the streets, visit coffee shops and become totally inspired by the thoughts and possibilties that are allowed to blossom when you have time alone to nuture your ideas and allow them to grow and morph into fully-fledged entities. It's been a little different this week rushing from one place to another and I've found hard fought ideas floating back into the recesses of my brain to be stored for "another, quieter day".  This video was a nice reminder that 'quiet time' or 'me time' should always be on the agenda and individuality is, in fact, a wonderful thing.

Have a lovely weekend.

mixed media

I'm currently thinking about what my next 'creative' project will be and contemplating experimenting with mixed media.  It seems to be the perfect way to combine my love of paper, photography and vintage, as well as  sing up all the tiny bits and pieces of "things" that I tend to keep because I can't bare to throw them out.  There are so many great artists inspiring me at the moment, but here are two of my favourites.

Labokoff creates these stunning digitally patined photographs of Paris and the surrounding countryside.  She has an etsy store and website where she sells her prints.  I think these would look great as a set hanging framed on a wall somewhere.  There is such a poetic feel to all of her work and yet its somehow still very much grounded in this world. 

I also love this mixed media print by Liesl Pfeffer, also found on etsy.  Liesl is based in Australia but currently travelling around the states on holidays.  Check out her cute blog for more about her art and travels. I really, really like the print below - so much so I'm close to buying on as a belated birthday present to myself.

 What are your feelings on mixed media? Love it or loathe it? Any favourite artists?

street art

I have a love-hate relationship with Berlin's street art.  There's a slightly wild feeling to the place - graffiti everywhere - some of it's breath-takingly beautiful but most of it's just plain ugly.  I know all big cities have graffiti, but there seems to be more of it here and I sometimes wish there was less of the tagging and more of the art.  Perhaps I could convince Miso (Stanislava Pinchuk) to do an exhibition in Berlin?  Miso creates street art inspired by Urkranian folklore for Melbourne's streets.   I love it - fellow Melbourne blog readers, if you spot any of her stuff around Degraves Street I'd love a photo!  You'll be handsomely rewarded, promise!

Found via Design for Mankind.

terrariums

For some reason this picture has got me thinking about Terrariums and I've decided that I want one.  Not exactly sure where it's going to go in our small apartment, but Matthias seems to haven taken over the role of Chief Balcony Gardener, and I figure maybe a Terrarium could be a little bit of dirt to call my own.  Actually, I'm quite happy that he's Chief Gardener because I have a nasty habit of neglecting plants and tend to kill them with a vicious cycle of under and then over watering.  But a terrarium would water itself and then I could just admire the wonderfulness of the green, little microsystem.  And if it was a pretty shape like the Pear Terrariums below, well, that'd just be grand.

Image: Shel Terrific

dilemma

I'm having a bit of an organisational dilemma at the moment.  I don't know how or where to store my jewellery.  Embarrassingly at the moment it's being stored in a couple of old "freebie" toiletry bags you get with perfumes at Christmas on our bedside window.  It looks really ugly.  Everyday I look at it and think - I must do something about that.  But I don't. 

Marianne from Song Bird Nesting (found on Flickr)

Amber in Norfolk (Flickr)

 Megan Boley (Flickr)

I want it to look neat, but I also want to be able to see it.  I have a tendency to 'forget' about things I own if I can't see them (out of sight out of mind).  It would also be great if it could be a bit of a 'feature' that way I'm much more likely to keep it tidy.  I love the idea of the first picture frame / pin board, but I'm not sure how practical it is.  I also think the idea of using lace to hang your earings is fantastic.  Not sure if I'd be able to pull this all together though, it would require some major 'crafting' that I'm not sure if I'm quite ready for.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

Flickr Faves - a touch of yellow

1. "Love Leaps" Rose Headband, 2. Pale Yellow Spool Catalog, 3. lemon man, 4. A whiter shade of pale

A touch of yellow to brighten up my day.

wreaths

by Itz Fitz

 by Knock Knocking

by Stylish Stems

by Kaleda

Wreaths keep popping up everywhere at the moment.  I always thought that they were more of a Christmas thing - but I'm loving these Spring versions I found on Etsy today.  They're also reminding me that Easter is getting very close.  I'm heading to Leeds this Easter to celebrate the impending arrival of a good friend from university's own little chicken and I'm getting very, very excited.  Friends, dinner, chocolate, walks in the forest and more food and chocolate - perfect.

Wall Stickers

I've just bought these lovely wall stickers for our bathroom window. I wanted to find something that still let in the light, but gave us some extra privacy during the winter months while the Oak Tree is bare. I initially thought about curtains or giving the windows a light white-wash, but then I struck upon the idea of wall stickers (or window stickers as the case might be). A quick Etsy search and I was inundated by designs, styles and colours. It was a tough choice, but I ended up settling on the wind- swept flowers in the first photo.

The rest of the photos are just eye-candy. Happy Tuesday!

Janey Macpress

Wall Design

Janey Macpress

Wow Wall

gooseflesh

Photo from gooseflesh

Gooseflesh is an arist with a wonderful blog. She has just commissioned this stunning coral work - a light - for a private residence. All of her work is done in crochet. Crochet! I love it. It takes the world of crochet leap-years beyond granny squares and doilies. She has loads more pictures of her work on her blog - go over and have a look - it's beautiful.

Granny Squares

Is this is sign that crochet is truly making a come-back onto the fashion scene?

Cate Blanchett stepped out at the 'Screen Worlds' red-carpet opening in Melbourne last week wearing a Granny Square inspired dress by designer 'Romance was Born'. To be honest, I don't really like it. But in general I like Cate Blanchett's original style and how she chooses to actively promote up-and-coming Australian designers. And it did get me to visit the 'Romance was Born' website, where I found that they also have designed a granny square bag, which I think I like much more.